Photographic-printing frame



(No Model.)

C. B. LEWIS. PHOTUGRAPHIG PRINTING FRAME.

No. 513,517.. l Ptented Jan. 30, 1894.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. LEW'IS, OF ALMA, MICHIGAN.

PHOTOGRAPHlC-PRINTING FRAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 513,517, dated January30, 1894.

Application filed Tune 28, 1893. Serial No. 479,051. (No model.)

T0 all whom t may concern,.-

ISe it known that I, CHARLES E. LEWIS, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Alma, Gratiot county, in the State ofMichigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement inPhotographic-Printing Frames, of which the following is a speciication.

This invention relates to the means emp loyed by photographersforintroducing negatives into their printing-frames, and removing themtherefrom, and for adjusting the negative and sensitive paper relativelyto each other, so as to correctly locate the picture in the print.

The objects of the invention are to facilitate the above operationsrespectively, so as to adapt the frame to he rapidly handled, and toattach a simple and effective vignetter-holder, for use when vignettingis desired, without complicating the manipulation of the printing-frameproper.

The invention consists in certain novel comblnations of parts ashereinafter set forth and claimed.

A sheet of drawings accompanies this speciication as part thereof.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a perspective back view of a printing-framewith vignetting attachment, illustrating the invention. Fig. 2 is a faceview of the same. Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal section on the lineFig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a small-scale back view illustrating theintroduction and removal of negatives.

Like letters and numbers refer to like parts in all the figures.

The printing-frame proper is composed of two distinct parts, A, B, whichare constructed mainly of wood, and of suitable internal dimensionsrespectively to receive and hold sensitive paper 1 and negatives 2 ofdefinite or standard sizes, and may be termed respectivelythe.ybackframe and the negativeframe; and the vignetter-holder C, ofSheet-metal, is Iixedly attached to end-cleats on the frame A so as tooverlie the negativeraine B, and serves to hold a paper vignet- Thepaper-holding opening of the backframe A, extends entirely through thisframe,

from back to front, and the frame is provided with the customaryback-boards 4. Springs 5, ixedly attached to the back-boards atmidlength, are attached to the back-frame itself near one long edge byhinges G, and engaged at the opposite edge of the frame by catches 7.The screws .fr which attach the catches 7 are not turned up so tight butthat suiiicient play is allowed the catches behind the heads of saidscrews to provide for disconnecting the springs 5 therefrom. Largeadjusting openings S in both end-pieces of the back-frame, perpendicularto its back, and at or about midwidth, and slots 9, Figs. l and Il,extending from said openings 8 nearly to one edge of the frame, completethe back-frame, apart from its said cleats for supporting thevignetter-holder C, which cleats are represented at 10, and may be gluedfast or otherwise attached to the front of the back-frame at its extremeends.

The negative-frame Bis a simple rectangular frame, somewhat shorter thansaid backframe, and movable edgewise on the latter between said cleats10, having a shallow rabbet in its back, adapted to hold negatives 2 ofminimum thickness, and provided in its end-pieces with screw-holes whichreceive a pair of clamping screws-11, the heads of which coact withwasher-'plates 12, which washerplates are adapted to bridge saidopenings 8 in every position of said screws within them, as at the leftin Fig. 1, and in Fig. 3.

The vignetter-holder C is attached to said cleats 10 of the back-frame Aby screws 13, and is constructed with lateral lips 14 to hold thevignetter 3, which is conveniently fastened therein by a pasteboard card15, pressed under one of said lips, and serving also as a tally-card.See Fig. 2.

With the printing-frame back upward, as in Fig. 1, the springs 5disconnected from the catches 7, and the screws ll loosened, thenegative-frame B is readily projected at one edge, as in Fig. 4, for theinsertion of a negative, film upward. The negative-frame is then slidinward until the clamping screws 1l occupy the adjusting openings 8, andthe screws are then tightened to a suiicient extent to preventaccidental displacement. With the backboards 4 thrown back, the negativeis now IOO adjusted by edgewise movements, relatively to thepaper-holding opening of the backframe A, until a correct appearance ofthe picture is obtained. Tightening the screws 11 is then completed,which fastens the negative in place; after which it is simply necessaryto drop the successive sheets of sensitive paper, face downward, intosaid paperholding opening, of the back-frame, pressing each upon theadjusted negative by means of the back-boards Ltand their fastenings,and then exposing the face of the negative, as in Figs. 2 and 3, to thesunlight.

If vignettes are desired, a suitable vignetter 3 is first of allfastened in place in the holder C. Otherwise it is simply omitted; andin either case the permanently attached vignetter-holder facilitiesrather than complicates handling the printing-frame proper as above.

Dierent known or improved fastenings for the back-boards 4 may besubstituted for the springs 5 with their hinges 6 and catches 7; thenegative-frame may be provided with metallic bushings-or nuts to coactwith the screws 1l; and other like modifications will suggest themselvesto those skilled in the art.

Having thus described the said improvement, I claim as my invention anddesire to patent under this specification- 1. A photographprinting-frame comprising a back-frame having an opening of suitabledimensions to hold sensitive paper of a standard or definite size, andprovided with the customary back-boards and fastening devices, anegative-frame, movable edgewise relatively to said back-frame, andhaving'a shallow rabbet in its back to hold the negative, and means forclamping said frames together, and thereby fastening the adjustednegative, preparatory to the printing operation, substantially ashereinbefore speciii-ed.

2. T-he combination, in a photograph printing-frame, of a back-framehaving an opening, perpendicular to its back, to hold the sensitivepaper, and adjusting openings lengthwise perpendicular to its back, anegativeframe having a shallow .rabbet in its back to hold the negative,and clamping screws, passing through said adjusting openings of theback-frame into said negative-frame, and provided with washer-plates tobridge said adjusting openings, substantially as hereinbefore specified.

3. The combination, in a photograph printing-frame, of a back-framehaving an opening to hold the sensitive paper, adj usting openings onopposite sides of the paper-holding opening, and slots extending fromsaid adjusting-openings toward a given edge of the frame, anegative-frame having a shallow rabbet in its back to hold 'thenegative, and clamping screws passing through said adjusting-openingsinto said negative-frame, and provided with washer-plates to bridge saidadjusting-openings, substantially as hereinbefore specified.

4. A photograph printing-frame composed of a rectangular back-frameprovided with means for holding the sensitive paper and provided withcleats on its front at opposite edges, a negative-frame which holds thenegative against the front of said back-frame and is adjustablebyfedgewise movements between said cleats, means for clamping saidframes together, and a vignetter-holder, permanently attached to saidcleats, in front of said negative frame, substantially as hereinbeforespecified.

:CHARLES E. LEWIS.

Witnesses:

W. A. BAHLKE, R. D. LEMEN.

